Morocco 8 Day Itinerary From Marrakech

Your 8-day Morocco desert tour begins with an early pickup from the airport or your accommodation in Marrakech. Then you travel through the High Atlas Mountains and cross the Tizi N’Tichka Pass. Along the way, there are stops for panoramic views of the mountain scenery.

Next, you visit the Kasbah of Telouat. After that, the route continues to the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a fortified village listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has appeared in many films, including Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, as well as the TV series Game of Thrones.

Later, you head to Ouarzazate, known as the gate to the desert. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, you explore Ouarzazate. First, you visit the Atlas Studios, where many well-known films were shot. You also stop at Taourirt Kasbah, a mud-built fortress and one of the oldest and most impressive ksars in Morocco.

Then the drive continues east to the Amridil Kasbah, surrounded by the palm groves of Skoura. After that, you go to Kalaa Magouna, famous for the Rose Valley. Every May, the Rose Festival brings locals together to sell rose-based products such as perfumes, rose water, oil, and cosmetics.

From there, you travel to Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades. Along the way, there are stops at the Monkey Fingers rock formation and at a viewpoint high above the valley. Dinner and overnight stay in a riad in Boumalne Dades.

After breakfast, you continue to Todra Gorges. The Todra River has carved a dramatic canyon through the mountains, creating high red cliffs on both sides. You’ll have time to walk through the gorge and enjoy the landscape.

Then the journey goes on through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. There is free time for lunch on the way.

In the afternoon, you reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga. Here, you switch to camels and cross the sand dunes. A stop is made so you can watch the sunset from a high dune.

Afterward, you continue to the luxury desert camp. In the evening, you can enjoy Berber drum music and dance around the campfire under the starry sky. Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

An early wake-up is a must so you can watch the sunrise over the desert. After breakfast, you return to Merzouga by camel or in a 4×4 transfer, where your driver meets you.

This day is set aside for exploring the Merzouga area. The region has sand dunes, a wild lake, old mines, fossil sites, and beautiful oases. It’s a great area for outdoor activities too.

First, you take an off-road drive to an old eyeliner mine. Then you visit nomads in their handmade woven tent and share Berber tea while learning about their way of life. After that, you go to Khamlia village to enjoy Gnaoua music and dance performances. The village’s people come from sub-Saharan countries such as Mali, Sudan, and Niger.

There is free time for lunch in a restaurant. Later, you take a walk through a palm grove. Then you drive a few kilometers to the wild lake of Merzouga, also known as Flamingos Lake. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, you leave the desert and head to Rissani, the old capital of Tafilalet. Rissani is still an important trading town, and its market is busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After a walk through the souk, you continue to Erfoud, where you visit one of the fossilized marble workshops.

Then you drive along the Ziz River and stop for a panoramic view of the Ziz Valley. Lunch is in Midelt.

Later, you continue to the cedar forest, home to Barbary macaques. You can walk through the forest and feed them if you like. After that, you visit Ifrane, known for its cool weather, snow, and Alpine-style houses. It’s often called the Switzerland of Morocco.

Finally, you are dropped off at your accommodation in Fes.

After breakfast, you’re picked up from your riad in Fes to begin your guided tour of one of Morocco’s most important imperial cities. Fes is the country’s cultural and spiritual center.

The tour begins with a driving visit. First, you stop at the Royal Palace Gate. Then you visit the Mellah, the historic Jewish Quarter. After that, you enjoy wide views from Borj Sud fortress, which looks out over the old medina. The last stop on this part of the tour is the ceramic village and school, where you can see traditional pottery work.

Then the walking tour begins. Step into the medieval medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved old cities in the Arab world. With a local guide, you visit places such as Al Attarine Madrasa, the University and Mosque of Al Quaraouiyine, which is considered the oldest existing university in the world, and the colorful Chouara Tanneries, where leather is dyed using old methods.

After this tour through Fes history, you return to your riad to relax.

After breakfast, you leave for Meknes, the Ismaili capital and one of Morocco’s imperial cities. There, you visit Bab Al-Mansour, Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, the granary, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Then you have free time for lunch.

Next, you drive about 30 km from Meknes to visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. The site is well preserved and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has beautiful mosaics, along with old pillars and arches.

After walking through the ruins, you head north through Ouazzane to reach Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains. This city is also known as the Blue City because of its blue-painted streets and buildings. Overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, you can enjoy some free time in the blue streets of Chefchaouen, depending on your flight schedule. Then you drive through the Rif Mountains to Tangier, where you’re transferred to the airport. End of the 8-day tour.